Konoha: Superman template, the spoiled brat becomes strong.

He anxiously examined Sakura's injuries, his eyes filled with concern, and a rare hint of worry appeared on his usually cold face.

Sakura covered her wound and looked up at Sasuke. She could feel the warmth emanating from him, and a warm feeling welled up in her heart.

She knew that this seemingly aloof and arrogant boy actually had a gentle side hidden in his heart.

Their eyes met, and a subtle emotion seemed to fill the air—a mutual respect for each other in battle, a support for one another in the face of life and death.

Just as everyone was being suppressed and forced to retreat by Kisame's offensive, an even more powerful aura suddenly descended.

That aura was like a gaze from the abyss, cold and chilling.

Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked up.

Suddenly, a figure appeared out of thin air in the center of the battlefield. The person was wearing the Akatsuki's red cloud black robe, his face was pierced by several black metal rods, and his pair of purple Rinnegan exuded a suffocating pressure.

It was Payne!

Kisame looked at Pain who had suddenly appeared, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by deep fear.

He was about to ask a question when he found himself unable to move, as if he were bound by an invisible force.

With just a glance from Pain, Kisame collapsed to the ground like a lump of mud, and Samehada in his hand lost its former ferocity.

"How could this be...?" Kakashi's eyes were serious as he sensed the powerful aura emanating from Pain, filling him with unease.

This power far surpassed that of any enemy he had ever encountered.

Naruto clenched his fists. Although he didn't understand what was happening, he instinctively sensed the danger posed by the other party.

Sasuke held Sakura in his arms, his brows furrowed. He too felt the threat from Pain.

"The rules of the world are about to be broken." Payne spoke slowly, his voice low and ethereal, like a whisper from another world. "What you see is just the tip of the iceberg. The real conspiracy is far darker than you can imagine."

His words struck everyone's hearts like a heavy hammer. They looked at each other, not understanding what Payne meant by "conspiracy," but a strong sense of unease rose in their hearts.

“Your struggles are futile,” Payne continued, a hint of mockery in his voice. “Everything will proceed according to plan…”

Just as everyone was about to ask further questions, Payne's figure suddenly vanished like a phantom, disappearing without a trace.

On the battlefield, only bewildered and helpless people were left behind.

Shikamaru rubbed his forehead, looked at Kakashi, and slowly said, "...This is definitely not a coincidence."

Chapter 207 The Attack of Paper Pieces

Even after Payne disappeared, the lingering oppressive atmosphere remained suffocating.

The crowd huddled together, like a small boat trembling in a stormy sea.

Kakashi frowned, Pain's last words, "The real conspiracy is far darker than you can imagine," echoing in his mind.

He subconsciously touched the headband over his left eye, covering his Sharingan, as if that could block out the unsettling premonition.

Naruto scratched his hair in frustration, his short, golden hair becoming a mess.

"Damn it! What is this guy talking about?! What conspiracy? What predetermined trajectory? So mysterious!" He punched the tree trunk next to him, and the leaves fell down, just like his chaotic thoughts at this moment.

Sasuke crossed his arms, his cold face filled with resentment.

"Hmph, playing tricks! Whatever his conspiracy, I will stop him!" He clenched his fist, his knuckles turning white, and the three tomoe in his Sharingan slowly rotated.

Sakura looked at Sasuke with concern, gently tugged at his sleeve, and said softly, "Sasuke-kun, be careful..."

Shikamaru rubbed his forehead and sighed.

“The situation is getting more and more complicated... The appearance of Pain, the death of the Fire Country Daimyo, and the ‘conspiracy’ he mentioned... There must be some connection between all of this.” He looked up at the gloomy sky, as if the answer was hidden behind the thick clouds.

"I believe we should return to Konoha immediately, report the situation here to the Hokage, and reorganize our forces to investigate the truth again," Danzo said, leaning on his cane, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"No way! This is a crucial moment in our investigation, how can we give up halfway!" Naruto stood up abruptly and retorted loudly.

"Payne's words just now clearly implied that if we don't continue the investigation now, we might miss an important clue! We must strike while the iron is hot!"

"Naruto's right!" Sasuke agreed. "We can't just go back like this; we have to find out Pain's purpose!"

"Hmph, a bunch of greenhorns, what do they know about the big picture!" Danzo sneered. "The situation is unclear right now; acting rashly will only lead to our deaths!"

"What did you say?!" Naruto's eyes widened in anger, and he was about to rush forward when Kakashi stopped him.

“Calm down, Naruto,” Kakashi said in a deep voice. “This is not the time for infighting.” He looked around at everyone, his tone firm, “Let’s…”

Just as they were arguing, white pieces of paper began to fall from the sky, fluttering down like snowflakes...

Just as everyone was arguing, a strange, cold wind carrying countless white paper scraps fell from the sky like a sudden rain.

These pieces of paper are not harmless snowflakes, but sharp blades, carrying the scent of death, slicing through the air with a piercing shriek.

"Watch out!" Kakashi shouted, leaping up like a cheetah and instantly appearing in front of Naruto, rapidly waving his kunai to block the tidal wave of paper scraps.

The others also reacted quickly, each using their own ninjutsu to dodge the sudden attack.

"Ah!" A scream shattered the silence. A Konoha ninja who was a little slow to react had his shoulder grazed by a piece of paper, and blood gushed out immediately. He clutched his wound and collapsed to his knees in agony.

In an instant, the groans of the injured, the whistling sound of paper slicing through the air, and the shouts of people trying to dodge all mingled together, filling the air with a tense and oppressive atmosphere.

Sasuke coldly surveyed the flying pieces of paper, his eyes sharp as an eagle's.

He formed hand seals, and flames blazed around him. The three tomoe in his Mangekyou Sharingan spun rapidly, and a powerful fire ninjutsu erupted instantly: "Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!" The scorching flames transformed into a massive wall of fire, instantly engulfing the flying pieces of paper and distorting the surrounding air.

Xiao Nan's figure was forced to appear in the flames. She wore a long robe with black background and red clouds, her eyes were cold, and a mocking smile curled at the corner of her mouth.

Seeing Sasuke's immense strength, everyone felt as if they had seen a glimmer of hope in their desperate situation, and their blood boiled once again.

Naruto roared, his body surging with red chakra as he charged toward Konan.

However, Xiao Nan did not panic at all. She quickly formed hand seals, and more paper pieces poured out from behind her. These paper pieces were no longer thin blades, but quickly transformed in the air into snow-white paper birds, covering the sky and the sun, densely packed, making people's scalps tingle.

These paper birds spiraled upwards, forming a peculiar formation in the air, as if it were some kind of ancient ritual.

Just then, a huge crack suddenly appeared in the sky, as if an invisible hand had torn this space apart, revealing a bottomless black hole that seemed to devour everything.

"This..." Kakashi's pupils contracted sharply, cold sweat beaded on his forehead, and he gripped his kunai tightly, ready to deal with any sudden crisis. His companions also watched the crack in the sky warily, each holding their weapons tightly.

Chapter 208 Temporary Cooperation with Akatsuki

The crack was like the gaping maw of a giant beast, dark and deep, emanating a chilling aura.

Kakashi's Sharingan spun rapidly, trying to see through the secrets behind the darkness, but he only saw nothingness.

Cold sweat trickled down his temples, soaking the bandage under his headband.

The air around seemed to be frozen, so oppressive that it made people feel breathless.

Everyone held their breath, gripping their weapons tightly, their eyes fixed on the crack, as if a raging flood or beast would burst forth from it at any moment.

"What is that..." Sakura's voice trembled slightly, and her fingers, which were tightly gripping the kunai, turned white.

Shikamaru habitually rubbed his forehead, his brows furrowed. "This doesn't look good. This situation is much bigger than we expected."

Kiba patted Akamaru's head, and both the man and the dog showed a wary expression. A low growl came from Kiba's throat, as if responding to the tense atmosphere.

Suddenly, a black torrent surged from the crack, pouring out like a river bursting its banks.

Upon closer inspection, they turned out to be countless mysterious ninjas wearing masks and dressed in black.

They moved with ghostly speed, instantly surrounding the crowd.

These ninjas are ruthless and unpredictable, their blades gleaming with a cold light, flicking like venomous snakes, making them impossible to defend against.

For a moment, everyone was overwhelmed.

"Damn it!" Naruto roared, his red chakra erupting instantly, and the phantom of the Nine-Tails' tail faintly appeared behind him.

He brandished his fists and charged into the enemy ranks like a tiger descending a mountain, engaging in fierce close combat with a masked ninja.

Sasuke, not to be outdone, activated his Sharingan, his kunai flashing in a blur as he engaged another ninja in battle.

His movements were as elegant and deadly as a cheetah's, each attack striking the vital points.

The comrades watched the sudden battle with bated breath, each ready to provide support at any moment.

The air was thick with the stench of blood; the clanging of swords and the booming of ninjutsu explosions intertwined to create a symphony of death.

Just as the battle reached a stalemate, and Naruto was surrounded and attacked by three masked ninjas, facing imminent danger, Danzo, leaning on his cane, stepped out from behind the crowd, his murky eyes gleaming with an unfathomable light.

"Stop." His hoarse voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable authority that drowned out the noise of the battlefield.

Everyone turned around in astonishment, looking at the old man who usually lived deep within the roots of Konoha, not understanding why he had appeared at this critical juncture.

"Lord Danzo, what is this...?" Kakashi's Sharingan narrowed slightly, his tone carrying a hint of wariness.

Danzo ignored Kakashi's question and instead turned his gaze to the depths of the rift, slowly saying, "I will cooperate with the Akatsuki organization for the time being."

These words resounded like a thunderclap in everyone's ears.

Cooperation?

Cooperating with the Akatsuki?

This is simply a fantasy!

The Akatsuki is a notorious rogue ninja organization with the blood of innocent people on its hands. How could Danzo make such an absurd decision?

Doubt, confusion, anger—a mix of emotions surged within everyone.

Naruto shouted out, "Danzo, you old man! What nonsense are you spouting! Cooperating with those guys?! Are you crazy?!"

Danzo snorted coldly. He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, his tone becoming low and chilling. "Do you really think this small crack is the work of Akatsuki? They're nothing but pawns."

The group exchanged bewildered glances, their minds filled with doubt at Danzo's words.

Could there be a deeper conspiracy behind all of this?

Just then, Killer Bee roared, and a dazzling blue chakra erupted from his body.

Eight octopus-like chakra swirled behind him, sweeping out like a storm, instantly blasting away the masked ninjas who were attacking Naruto.

"Yo! Kids, let me show you the power of the Eight-Tails!" Killer Bee's heroic voice echoed across the battlefield. He was like a war god, exuding a chilling aura.

Seeing this, everyone's spirits lifted, and cheers rose and fell.

The appearance of Killer Bee undoubtedly gave them a shot in the arm.

However, just when everyone thought victory was in sight, a strange laugh suddenly came from the crack, and then a figure wearing a spiral mask slowly walked out.

"Hehehe... Looks like you guys are having a lot of fun." Obito Uchiha's voice was like a whisper from hell, carrying a chilling aura.

He walked step by step toward the crowd, his crimson Sharingan gleaming eerily behind his mask, a strange smile playing on his lips.

That smile was as chilling as a viper's hiss, sending shivers down one's spine.

Obito's gaze swept over everyone, finally settling on Kakashi, and he said meaningfully, "Kakashi... it's been a long time."

Everyone stared intently at Obito Uchiha, their eyes fixed on him...

Chapter 209 Resurrecting Evil Power

The air seemed to freeze, and every inch of space was filled with a suffocating sense of oppression.

The appearance of Obito Uchiha was like a boulder pressing down on everyone's hearts. The situation, which had just eased slightly due to Killer Bee's appearance, was instantly pulled back into the abyss.

His crimson Sharingan gleamed with an eerie light behind the spiral mask, like two cold flames that burned away the hearts of everyone present.

Naruto clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging deep into his palms. He felt the restlessness of the Nine-Tails within him, as if it were responding to the evil aura emanating from Obito.

Sasuke's eyes were as cold as knives as he stared intently at Obito's every move, with faint flashes of lightning at his fingertips.

Sakura bit her lip tightly, her emerald green eyes filled with worry. She could sense an unprecedented crisis approaching.

Kakashi held the kunai in one hand, his gaze calm and composed, but his clenched hand betrayed his inner tension.

He had fought alongside Obito, but now they were enemies. This stark contrast filled him with complex emotions.

He realized that the man before him was no longer the carefree teenager he once knew, but a dangerous enemy.

"Heh..." Obito chuckled lightly, his laughter carrying a hint of mockery and disdain, as if he were looking at a group of ants.

"It seems you're all really naive, thinking that defeating a few puppets will stop Akatsuki's advance?"

He slowly raised his right hand, his five fingers spread, and a chilling wave of chakra emanated from his body.

The surrounding air seemed to tremble, as if space itself was about to tear apart.